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Georgina Weston

Building Literacy Access with Refuge In Literacy UK

Georgina Weston

  • Partner:
    • Refuge In Literacy UK
  • Brand/Project Owner:
    • Georgina Weston
  • Industry / Sector:
    • Education
    • Literacy
    • Nonprofit
  • Services Provided:
    • Content Creation & Planning
    • Social Media & Strategy
    • Website Design & Development
  • Status:
    • Active Partnership ✅
  • Last Updated:
    • 01 September 2025

ABOUT THE PARTNER

Refuge In Literacy UK is a non-profit dedicated to supporting primary schools and domestic violence refuges. They provide children, families, and survivors with literacy resources that make reading more accessible. They invited me to help create friendly, age-appropriate literacy resources (birth to 11 years), deliver a professional website, and share their mission through social media.

THE CHALLENGE

Before I joined, Refuge In Literacy UK had no online presence. They lacked the digital footprint, resources, and skills to establish one, and as an entirely volunteer-led organisation, there was no budget to outsource. Everyone involved was already balancing paid work, family responsibilities, and other commitments, so progress was often dependent on spare time and goodwill.

This lack of visibility meant that their ability to reach schools, families, and refuges was very limited, with awareness of their mission relying only on word of mouth. Without a website or social media channels, they also lacked the credibility that many schools, donors, and supporters look for when choosing who to engage with.

The people they serve, children and families in refuges and primary schools, often lack consistent access to educational resources. Making literacy engaging, friendly, and accessible in both digital and print formats was essential. From a marketing perspective, the insight was clear: their story had to be told. Real stories of children, families, and schools resonate far more than statistics, and building a platform to share those stories was the first step toward expanding their impact.

THE APPROACH

I joined Refuge In Literacy UK in 2021 and began by building the foundation: a mobile responsive website designed in CSS, HTML and JavaScript. Alongside this, I created the first version of our reading prompts documents, setting the stage for long term growth. To build momentum in the shorter term, I established our social media accounts so we could start sharing our mission and connecting with families and schools.

Our work is always collaborative. Each month we meet as a board of directors, where we share both current progress and future ideas. I have also taken an active role in reaching out to representatives at UK refuges, collecting their stories so we can build case studies that show how Refuge In Literacy UK has made a difference. These stories feed into both our website and social channels, giving the cause a human voice.

To make this possible on a volunteer basis, I lean on accessible and sustainable tools. Canva helps shape our brand identity and content design, Notion supports project management and task tracking, and Meta Business Suite keeps our social posting consistent. Everything we build is designed to balance momentum with sustainability, ensuring the non-profit grows steadily even within the constraints of a volunteer-led structure.

THE SOLUTION AND DELIVERABLES

The first step was building a professional, mobile responsive website in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. The site includes dedicated pages for About Us, Patron, Authors, Donate, Refuges, Support Us, Supporters and Stakeholders, The Extra Mile, Updates, and Case Studies (Reading Prompts), as well as a contact form. This became the foundation for visibility: a trusted home where schools, families, and refuges could access resources, learn about the non-profit’s mission, and connect with us directly. It also gave supporters and stakeholders a credible way to engage with our work.

Alongside the website, I developed literacy resources in two formats. The first iteration was a series of comprehensive PDF documents with more than 100 pages defining reading prompts, strategies, and practical usage guidance. These could be printed or shared digitally. The second iteration was more playful and accessible: A4 reading prompts cards that simplified the content into engaging, child friendly designs. Each sheet could be cut into four cards, covering strategies from birth to age 11. Designed for children, parents, teachers, and refuges, these resources are now recognised by the Department of Education as official literacy tools.

To build community and share our story, I established and continue to manage our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn channels. Across these, I share educational and inspirational content: a mix of literacy prompts, non-profit updates, and reflections that invite families and schools to connect with our mission.

Campaigns and broader content initiatives are an area I am planning to grow further. Future steps include running awareness drives, spotlighting stories from refuges, and building campaigns around literacy milestones that align with the school year. These will expand our reach, invite more participation, and create moments for wider advocacy.

Case studies with UK refuges are already in progress, where we are gathering real experiences to show how our resources are being used on the ground. Partnerships with other organisations are also in development and will be shared in future updates.

THE RESULTS (ONGOING)

INITIAL OUTCOMES:

  • The new website established a professional and trusted online home, giving Refuge In Literacy UK visibility and credibility.
  • Literacy resources were formally recognised by the Department of Education as tools supporting children from birth to age 11.
  • Families, teachers, and refuges now have free access to resources that were previously unavailable online.
  • Social media channels created the non-profit’s first points of connection with a wider audience, extending reach beyond word of mouth.
  • Early feedback from parents, teachers, and refuge staff affirmed the resources as both useful and engaging.

RECENT UPDATES (REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL):

  • 2024: Reading prompts cards launched, offering a simpler, more child friendly version of the original resources.
  • 2023: Literacy resources officially recognised by the Department of Education.
  • 2022: Social media channels launched on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, sharing educational and inspirational content.
  • 2021: Website launched, providing Refuge In Literacy UK with its first digital presence.

THE PARTNERSHIP TODAY

Day to day, I continue to manage the website, social media channels, and literacy resources. Our focus remains on making these tools as accessible and useful as possible for the families, schools, and refuges who rely on them. The partnership is steady and ongoing, with each update strengthening the foundation we have already built.

CALL TO ACTION

This is the kind of work I love: building resources that feel both useful and human.

If that is what you need too, let us start a conversation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since 2021, I have partnered with Refuge In Literacy UK to build their digital presence from the ground up. I created their first website, developed literacy resources now recognised by the Department of Education, and launched their social media channels. The work has given the non-profit visibility, credibility, and accessible tools for children, families, and refuges. Today, the partnership is ongoing, focused on keeping resources useful, human, and sustainable.

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